Proactive pusch grants to prevent rate throttling

ABSTRACT

One embodiment is directed to transmitting user data to a UE from a base station on a shared downlink channel and determining if a throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than a threshold amount. If the throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, the base station provides the UE with a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplink resources when such UE is more in need of a proactive grant than other UEs. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/668,732, filed on May 8, 2018, and titled“PROACTIVE PUSCH GRANTS TO PREVENT RATE THROTTLING”, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless systems, the Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH) is defined as a shared channel. In order for userequipment (UE) to transmit on the PUSCH, the UE typically transmits ascheduling request (SR) to the serving base station (also referred to asan “Evolved Node B” or “eNodeB”) on the Physical Uplink Control Channel(PUCCH).

In response to the SR, if appropriate, the serving eNodeB will grant theUE PUSCH resources for transmitting on the PUSCH. Typically, each SRinforms the eNodeB that the UE needs access to the PUSCH but does notindicate how much data the UE needs to transmit on the PUSCH. As aresult, the eNodeB will grant the UE a nominal amount of PUSCH resourcesby sending the UE a DCI0 message on the PDCCH.

This nominal PUSCH grant includes sufficient PUSCH resources for the UEto send a Buffer Status Report (BSR) and a Power Headroom Report (PHR)on the PUSCH but not the uplink data buffered at the UE. The BSRindicates how much uplink data the UE has buffered from transmission onthe PUSCH. In response to receiving the BSR from the UE, the eNodeBmakes one or more subsequent PUSCH grants to the UE (signaled using DCI0messages) for transmitting the buffered uplink data on the PUSCH. TheBSR value is used by the eNodeB to track the amount of buffered datathat remains at the UE for the most-recent SR. For each PUSCH grant,after the eNodeB successfully receives uplink data from the UE on thePUSCH, the tracked BSR value is reduced by the amount of datasuccessfully received. The eNodeB stops making PUSCH grants to the UEfor the most-recent SR once the tracked BSR value reaches zero.

The eNodeB typically assigns some of the connected UEs periodic PUCCHresource blocks (RBs) during which the UEs can make SRs. UEs that arenot assigned periodic PUCCH RBs for making SRs must use the RandomAccess Channel (RACH) procedure to make SRs. For each UE assigned PUCCHRBs for making SRs, the eNodeB assigns a configurable period (Tsr) thatspecifies the length between successive PUCCH RBs assigned to that UE tomake SR transmissions.

When a relatively large number of PUCCH RBs are assigned to UEs for SRs,the payload capacity of the PUCCH will be reduced. Thus, when the numberof connected UEs is high, the eNodeB will typically assign relativelylarge Tsr values to at least some of the connected UEs in order to keepthe number of PUCCH RBs used for SRs small.

However, using large Tsr values can limit the Physical Downlink SharedChannel (PDSCH) throughput for UEs communicating using TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) connections that do not have uplink traffic. Ingeneral, a TCP source will throttle downlink throughput based on itsreception of uplink acknowledgments (ACKs) for downlink packets. Inparticular, the TCP source limits the number of bytes in flight. Thiscauses downlink TCP throughput to decrease when TCP ACK latencyincreases.

When a UE communicating using a TCP connection is not transmittinguplink user data over the TCP connection, the UE will not have otherwisebeen granted PUSCH RBs for transmitting uplink TCP data. Therefore, inorder for the UE to be granted PUSCH RBs to send TCP ACKS, the UEtypically must send a SR at its next SR transmission opportunity.However, increasing the Tsr value assigned to the UE will increase thetime it takes for the UE to be granted PUSCH RBs for transmitting TCPACKS. This will increase the TCP ACK latency and, as a result, canresult in the TCP source throttling the downlink throughput.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is directed to a method performed by a base station inconnection with communicating with user equipment (UE). The methodcomprises transmitting user data to the UE from the base station on ashared downlink channel and determining if a throughput for the userdata transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greaterthan a threshold amount. The method further comprises, if the throughputfor the user data transmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channelis greater than the threshold amount, providing, by the base station,the UE with a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel bymaking proactive grants of uplink resources when necessary.

Another embodiment is directed to a method performed by a base stationused to wirelessly communicate with user equipment using an LTE shareddownlink channel and an LTE shared uplink channel. The method comprisestransmitting respective user data to each UE from the base station onthe shared downlink channel, determining, by the base station, arespective average throughput for the respective user data transmittedon the shared downlink channel to each UE, and determining, by the basestation, if the respective average throughput for each UE exceeds apredetermined throughput threshold. The method further comprises, foreach UE for which the respective average throughput exceeds thepredetermined throughput threshold, determining, by the base station, anumber of time transmission intervals (TTIs) that have passed since amost recent grant of, or scheduling request (SR) opportunity for, uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel for the UE, determining, by thebase station, which UE has a largest said number of TTIs, determining,by the base station, if the largest said number of TTIs is greater thana threshold number of TTIs, and, if the largest said number of TTIs isgreater than a threshold number of TTIs, making, by the base station tothe UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs, a proactivegrant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel.

Another embodiment is directed to a base station configured towirelessly communicate with user equipment (UE). The base stationcomprises a radio configured to wirelessly communicate with the UE andat least one processor configured to cause the base station to do thefollowing: transmit user data to the UE from the base station on ashared downlink channel; determine if a throughput for the user datatransmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than athreshold amount; and, if the throughput for the user data transmittedto the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the thresholdamount, provide the UE with a minimum amount of access to shared uplinkchannel by making proactive grants of uplink resources when necessary.

Another embodiment is directed to a base station configured towirelessly communicate with user equipment (UE) using an LTE shareddownlink channel and an LTE shared uplink channel. The base stationcomprises a radio configured to wirelessly communicate with the UE andat least one processor configured to cause the base station to do thefollowing: transmit respective user data to each UE from the basestation on the shared downlink channel; determine a respective averagethroughput for the respective user data transmitted on the shareddownlink channel to each UE; and determine if the respective averagethroughput for each UE exceeds a predetermined throughput threshold. Theat least one processor is further configured to cause the base stationto do the following: for each UE for which the respective averagethroughput exceeds the predetermined throughput threshold, determine anumber of time transmission intervals (TTIs) that have passed since amost recent of a grant of, or scheduling request (SR) opportunity for,uplink resources on the shared uplink channel for the UE; determinewhich UE has a largest said number of TTIs; determine if the largestsaid number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs; and ifthe largest said number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number ofTTIs, make, to the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs, aproactive grant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of aradio access network (RAN) system in which the techniques described herecan be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a high-level flow chart illustrating one exemplary embodimentof a method of proactively granting access to an uplink channel.

FIG. 3 comprises a flow chart illustrating one exemplary embodiment of amethod of proactively granting access to the PUSCH.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of aradio access network (RAN) system 100 in which the techniques describedhere can be implemented.

The RAN system 100 comprises one or more base stations 102 (alsoreferred to here as “Evolved Node Bs” or “eNodeBs”). Each eNodeB 102serves at least one cell 104 and includes or is coupled to one or moreantennas 106 via which downlink RF signals are radiated to userequipment (UE) 108 and via which uplink RF signals transmitted by UEs108 are received.

Each eNodeB 102 is coupled to a core network 110 of a wireless networkoperator over an appropriate back-haul. In the exemplary embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the Internet 112 is used for back-haul between eacheNodeB 102 and each core network 110. However, it is to be understoodthat the back-haul can be implemented in other ways.

The exemplary embodiment of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is describedhere as being implemented as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio accessnetwork providing wireless service using an LTE air interface. LTE is astandard developed by 3GPP standards organization. In this embodiment,each eNodeB 102 implements an LTE Evolved Node B that is used to providethe user equipment 108 with mobile access to the wireless networkoperator's core network 110 to enable the user equipment 108 towirelessly communicate data and voice (using, for example, Voice overLTE (VoLTE) technology).

Also, in this exemplary LTE embodiment, each core network 110 isimplemented as an LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 110 comprising standardLTE EPC network elements such as, for example, a mobility managemententity (MME) (not shown) and a Serving Gateway (SGW) (not shown) and,optionally, a Home eNodeB gateway (HeNB GW) (not shown) and a SecurityGateway (SeGW) (not shown).

Each eNodeB 102 can be implemented in various ways. For example, eacheNodeB 102 can be implemented using a traditional monolithic macro basestation configuration, a microcell, picocell, femtocell or other “smallcell” configuration, or a centralized or cloud RAN (C-RAN)configuration. Each eNodeB 102 can be implemented in other ways.

Also, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each eNodeB 102comprises at least one radio 114 configured to wireless communicate withthe UE 108 and at least one processor 116 configured to execute softwareor firmware 118 that causes the eNodeB 102 to perform at least some ofthe functions described here as being performed by the eNodeB 102. Thesoftware or firmware 118 comprises program instructions that are stored(or otherwise embodied) on or in an appropriate non-transitory storagemedium or media 120 from which at least a portion of the programinstructions are read by the programmable processor 116 for executionthereby. Although the storage media 120 is shown in FIG. 1 as beingincluded in, and local to, the respective eNodeB 102, it is to beunderstood that remote storage media (for example, storage media that isaccessible over a network) and/or removable media can also be used. EacheNodeB 102 also includes memory 122 for storing the program instructions(and any related data) during execution by the programmable processor116.

Each eNodeB 102 can be implemented in other ways.

FIG. 2 comprises a high-level flow chart illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a method 200 of proactively granting access to an uplinkchannel. The embodiment of method 200 shown in FIG. 2 is described hereas being implemented in the RAN system 100 of FIG. 1, though it is to beunderstood that other embodiments can be implemented in other ways.

The blocks of the flow diagram shown in FIG. 2 have been arranged in agenerally sequential manner for ease of explanation; however, it is tobe understood that this arrangement is merely exemplary, and it shouldbe recognized that the processing associated with method 200 (and theblocks shown in FIG. 2) can occur in a different order (for example,where at least some of the processing associated with the blocks isperformed in parallel and/or in an event-driven manner). Also, moststandard exception handling is not described for ease of explanation;however, it is to be understood that method 200 can and typically wouldinclude such exception handling.

Method 200 is described here as being performed for each UE 108 when itattaches to the cell 104 and establishes an RRC connection. Theparticular UE 108 for which method 200 is being performed is referred tohere as the “current” UE 108.

Method 200 comprises transmitting user data from the base station to thecurrent UE 108 on a shared downlink channel (block 202).

Method 200 further comprises determining if the throughput for the userdata transmitted to the current UE 108 on the shared downlink channel isgreater than a threshold amount (block 204).

If the throughput for the user data transmitted to the current UE 108 onthe shared downlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, thebase station 102 provides the current UE 108 with a minimum amount ofaccess to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel when necessary (block 206).

This grant of uplink resources for the shared uplink channel is“proactive” in that the base station 102 makes this grant without thecurrent UE 108 making, and without the base station 102 receiving, ascheduling request for uplink resources. In this LTE example, the shareduplink channel comprises PUSCH, the uplink resources can include amodulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resource blocks (PRBs) forthe transmitting on the shared uplink channel, and the eNodeB 102signals this proactive grant by transmitting an appropriate DCI0 messageon the PDCCH to the current UE 108.

The minimum of amount of access to the shared uplink channel isdetermined as a function of the amount of time since the most recentgrant of, or last SR opportunity for, uplink PUSCH resources for thecurrent UE 108. If the current UE 108 has had a recent grant of uplinkresources or has recently had an opportunity to make a SR, then it isnot likely that the base station 102 will need to make such a proactivegrant of uplink resources. However, if a predetermined amount of timehas elapsed since the current UE 108 has had a recent grant of uplinkresources or an opportunity to make a SR, then the current UE 108 is acandidate for a proactive grant of uplink resources.

The threshold amount of throughput mentioned above in connection withblock 202 can be set to identify situations where there is a good chancethat the current UE 108 is communicating using a TCP connection at arate high enough that the TCP connection may be throttled. If the UE 108has not otherwise been granted access to the uplink channel fortransmitting uplink TCP user data, the UE 108 typically must wait tosend a SR at its next SR transmission opportunity in order for the UE108 to be granted access to the uplink channel in order to send TCPACKs. As noted above, where the UE 108 is assigned a large Tsr value,the TCP ACK latency can be high enough to cause the TCP source tothrottle the downlink throughput.

To avoid such throttling, the serving base station 102 can be configuredto make a proactive uplink grant to the UE 108 experiencing highdownlink throughput but has not had an opportunity to request, or beengranted, access to the uplink channel within a predetermined amount oftime. By granting the UE 108 access to the uplink channel without havingto wait to send a SR at its next SR transmission opportunity in orderfor the UE 108 to be granted access to the uplink channel in order tosend TCP ACKs, the TCP ACK latency can be reduced. The eNodeB 102 isconfigured to provide the current UE 108 with sufficient minimum accessto the shared uplink channel in order to sufficiently reduce theresulting TCP ACK latency so as to significantly reduce likelihood thatthe TCP source will throttle the downlink throughput.

In response to receiving the proactive grant of uplink resources, thecurrent UE 108 accesses the shared uplink channel using the resourcesspecified in the proactive grant (for example, using the PRBs and MCSspecified in the proactive grant). The current UE 108 accesses theuplink channel as if it had been granted access to the shared uplinkchannel in the “normal” manner (for example, by making a SR). Forexample, the current UE 108 can use access the shared uplink channel towirelessly transmit to the base station 102 a BSR and a PHR that signalsthe base station 102 to make subsequent grants of uplink resources forthe current UE 108 to transmit other data (such as any queued TCP ACKs).

One detailed implementation of method 200 is shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 comprises a flow chart illustrating one exemplary embodiment of amethod 300 of proactively granting access to the PUSCH. The embodimentof method 300 shown in FIG. 3 is described here as being implemented inthe RAN system 100 of FIG. 1, though it is to be understood that otherembodiments can be implemented in other ways.

The blocks of the flow diagram shown in FIG. 3 have been arranged in agenerally sequential manner for ease of explanation; however, it is tobe understood that this arrangement is merely exemplary, and it shouldbe recognized that the processing associated with method 300 (and theblocks shown in FIG. 3) can occur in a different order (for example,where at least some of the processing associated with the blocks isperformed in parallel and/or in an event-driven manner). Also, moststandard exception handling is not described for ease of explanation;however, it is to be understood that method 300 can and typically wouldinclude such exception handling.

Method 300 is performed for each transmission time interval (TTI). Theparticular TTI for which method 300 is being performed is referred tohere as the “current” TTI.

Method 300 comprises transmitting respective user data from the eNodeB102 to UEs 108 on a LTE PDSCH (the shared downlink channel in thisexample) (block 302).

Method 300 further comprises determining, by the eNodeB 102, arespective average throughput for the respective user data transmittedon the PDSCH to each UE 108 (block 304). In this exemplary embodiment,the eNodeB 102 is configured to determine the average throughput on thePDSCH for each such UE 108 by calculating an average downlink throughputsupplied on the PDSCH to that UE 108 over a predetermined number N ofTTIs. This average is calculated as a moving average taken over the lastN TTIs.

Method 300 further comprises determining, by the eNodeB 102, if therespective average throughput for each UE 108 exceeds a predeterminedthroughput threshold (block 306). For each UE 108 that has a respectiveaverage throughput that exceeds the predetermined throughput threshold,the eNodeB 102 determines the number of time transmission intervals(TTIs) that have passed since the most recent grant or schedulingrequest (SR) opportunity for that UE 108 for the PUSCH (the shareduplink channel in this example) (block 308). The number of TTIs thathave passed since the most recent PUSCH grant or SR opportunity is alsoreferred to here as the number of “silent TTIs.”

Method 300 further comprises determining, by the eNodeB 102, which UE108 has the largest number of silent TTIs (block 310). The largestnumber of silent TTIs is also referred to here as the “max silent TTIs,”and the associated UE 108 is also referred to here as the “max UE 108.”

If the max silent TTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs (block312), the eNodeB 102 makes a proactive grant to the max UE 108 of PUSCHresources in the current TTI (block 314). In this exemplary embodiment,the eNodeB 102 makes a proactive grant to the max UE 108 of at least 1RB on the PUSCH in the current TTI.

Otherwise, if the max TTIs is not greater than the threshold number ofTTIs, no proactive grant of PUSCH resources is made in the current TTI(block 316).

Other embodiments can be implemented in other ways.

The methods and techniques described here may be implemented in digitalelectronic circuitry, or with a programmable processor (for example, aspecial-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor such as acomputer) firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatusembodying these techniques may include appropriate input and outputdevices, a programmable processor, and a storage medium tangiblyembodying program instructions for execution by the programmableprocessor. A process embodying these techniques may be performed by aprogrammable processor executing a program of instructions to performdesired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriateoutput. The techniques may advantageously be implemented in one or moreprograms that are executable on a programmable system including at leastone programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructionsfrom, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system,at least one input device, and at least one output device. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memoryand/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangiblyembodying computer program instructions and data include all forms ofnon-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memorydevices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic diskssuch as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks;and DVD disks. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, orincorporated in, specially-designed application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs).

A number of embodiments of the invention defined by the following claimshave been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that variousmodifications to the described embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Example Embodiments

Example 1 includes a method performed by a base station in connectionwith communicating with user equipment (UE), the method comprising:transmitting user data to the UE from the base station on a shareddownlink channel; determining if a throughput for the user datatransmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than athreshold amount; and if the throughput for the user data transmitted tothe UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the thresholdamount, providing, by the base station, the UE with a minimum amount ofaccess to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplinkresources when necessary.

Example 2 includes the method of Example 1, wherein the user datatransmitted to the UE comprises user data for a Transmission ControlProtocol (TCP) connection.

Example 3 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-2, wherein the UEis provided with the minimum amount of access to the shared uplinkchannel to enable the UE to transmit acknowledgments on the shareduplink channel.

Example 4 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-3, wherein theproactive grant is made by the base station without the UE making, andwithout the base station receiving, a scheduling request for uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel.

Example 5 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-4, wherein theshared downlink channel comprises a LTE Physical Downlink Shared Channel(PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTE Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH).

Example 6 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-5, wherein theuplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise at least one of:a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resource blocks (PRBs) fortransmitting on the shared uplink channel.

Example 7 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-6, wherein thebase station signals each proactive grant by sending the UE a DCI0message on an LTE Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Example 8 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-7, wherein theminimum of amount of access to the shared uplink channel is determinedas a function of an amount of time since a most recent grant of, orscheduling request (SR) opportunity for, the shared channel uplink forthe UE.

Example 9 includes the method of any of the Examples 1-8, wherein thethreshold amount of downlink throughput is set to identify situationswhere the UE is communicating using a Transmission Control Protocol(TCP) connection at a rate high enough that the TCP connection may bethrottled; and wherein the minimum of amount of access to the shareduplink channel is provided in order to avoid throttling of the TCPconnection.

Example 10 includes a method performed by a base station used towirelessly communicate with user equipment using an LTE shared downlinkchannel and an LTE shared uplink channel, the method comprising:transmitting respective user data to each UE from the base station onthe shared downlink channel; determining, by the base station, arespective average throughput for the respective user data transmittedon the shared downlink channel to each UE; determining, by the basestation, if the respective average throughput for each UE exceeds apredetermined throughput threshold; for each UE for which the respectiveaverage throughput exceeds the predetermined throughput threshold,determining, by the base station, a number of time transmissionintervals (TTIs) that have passed since a most recent grant of, orscheduling request (SR) opportunity for, uplink resources on the shareduplink channel for the UE; determining, by the base station, which UEhas a largest said number of TTIs; determining, by the base station, ifthe largest said number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number ofTTIs; if the largest said number of TTIs is greater than a thresholdnumber of TTIs, making, by the base station to the UE associated withthe largest said number of TTIs, a proactive grant of uplink resourceson the shared uplink channel.

Example 11 includes the method of Example 10, wherein determining, bythe base station, the average throughput on the shared downlink channelfor each UE comprises calculating an average throughput supplied on theshared downlink channel to each UE over a predetermined number of TTIs.

Example 12 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-11, wherein theuser data transmitted to at least one UE comprises user data for aTransmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

Example 13 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-12, wherein theproactive grant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel is madeto enable the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs totransmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.

Example 14 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-13, wherein theproactive grant is made by the base station without the UE associatedwith the largest said number of TTIs making, and without the basestation receiving, a scheduling request for uplink resources on theshared uplink channel.

Example 15 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-14, wherein theshared downlink channel comprises a LTE Physical Downlink Shared Channel(PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTE Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH).

Example 16 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-15, wherein theuplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise at least one of:a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resource blocks (PRBs) fortransmitting on the shared uplink channel.

Example 17 includes the method of any of the Examples 10-16, wherein thebase station signals each proactive grant by sending a DCI0 message onan LTE Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Example 18 includes a base station configured to wirelessly communicatewith user equipment (UE), the base station comprising: a radioconfigured to wirelessly communicate with the UE; at least one processorconfigured to cause the base station to do the following: transmit userdata to the UE from the base station on a shared downlink channel;determine if a throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on theshared downlink channel is greater than a threshold amount; and if thethroughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shareddownlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, provide the UEwith a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel by makingproactive grants of uplink resources when necessary.

Example 19 includes the base station of Example 18, wherein the userdata transmitted to the UE comprises user data for a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) connection.

Example 20 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-19,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to providethe UE with the minimum amount of access to the shared uplink channel toenable the UE to transmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.

Example 21 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-20,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to makethe proactive grant without the UE making, and without the base stationreceiving, a scheduling request for uplink resources on the shareduplink channel.

Example 22 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-21,wherein the shared downlink channel comprises a LTE Physical DownlinkShared Channel (PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTEPhysical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).

Example 23 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-22,wherein the uplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise atleast one of: a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resourceblocks (PRBs) for transmitting on the shared uplink channel.

Example 24 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-23,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to signaleach proactive grant by sending the UE a DCI0 message on an LTE PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Example 25 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-24,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station todetermine the minimum of amount of access to the shared uplink channelas a function of an amount of time since a most recent of a grant of orscheduling request (SR) opportunity for uplink resources for the UE.

Example 26 includes the base station of any of the Examples 18-25,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to set thethreshold amount of throughput to identify situations where the UE iscommunicating using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection ata rate high enough that the TCP connection may be throttled; and whereinthe processor is configured to cause the base station to determine theminimum of amount of access to the shared uplink channel to avoidthrottling of the TCP connection.

Example 27 includes a base station configured to wirelessly communicatewith user equipment (UE) using an LTE shared downlink channel and an LTEshared uplink channel, the base station comprising: a radio configuredto wirelessly communicate with the UE; at least one processor configuredto cause the base station to do the following: transmit respective userdata to each UE from the base station on the shared downlink channel;determine a respective average throughput for the respective user datatransmitted on the shared downlink channel to each UE; determine if therespective average throughput for each UE exceeds a predeterminedthroughput threshold; for each UE for which the respective averagethroughput exceeds the predetermined throughput threshold, determine anumber of time transmission intervals (TTIs) that have passed since amost recent of a grant of, or scheduling request (SR) opportunity for,uplink resources on the shared uplink channel for the UE; determinewhich UE has a largest said number of TTIs; determine if the largestsaid number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs; if thelargest said number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs,make, to the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs, aproactive grant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel.

Example 28 includes the base station of Example 27, wherein theprocessor is configured to cause the base station to determine theaverage throughput on the shared downlink channel for each UE comprisesby calculating an average throughput supplied on the shared downlinkchannel to each UE over a predetermined number of TTIs.

Example 29 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-28,wherein the user data transmitted to at least one UE comprises user datafor a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

Example 30 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-29,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to makethe proactive grant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel inorder to enable the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIsto transmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.

Example 31 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-30,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to makethe proactive grant without the UE associated with the largest saidnumber of TTIs making, and without the base station receiving, ascheduling request for uplink resources on the shared uplink channel.

Example 32 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-31,wherein the shared downlink channel comprises a LTE Physical DownlinkShared Channel (PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTEPhysical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).

Example 33 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-32,wherein the uplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise atleast one of: a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resourceblocks (PRBs) for transmitting on the shared uplink channel.

Example 34 includes the base station of any of the Examples 27-33,wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station to signaleach proactive grant by sending a DCI0 message on an LTE PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a base station inconnection with communicating with user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising: transmitting user data to the UE from the base station on ashared downlink channel; determining if a throughput for the user datatransmitted to the UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than athreshold amount; and if the throughput for the user data transmitted tothe UE on the shared downlink channel is greater than the thresholdamount, providing, by the base station, the UE with a minimum amount ofaccess to a shared uplink channel by making proactive grants of uplinkresources when necessary.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the userdata transmitted to the UE comprises user data for a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) connection.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theUE is provided with the minimum amount of access to the shared uplinkchannel to enable the UE to transmit acknowledgments on the shareduplink channel.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proactive grant ismade by the base station without the UE making, and without the basestation receiving, a scheduling request for uplink resources on theshared uplink channel.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shareddownlink channel comprises a LTE Physical Downlink Shared Channel(PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTE Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH).
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel comprise at least one of: amodulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resource blocks (PRBs) fortransmitting on the shared uplink channel.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the base station signals each proactive grant by sending the UEa DCI0 message on an LTE Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the minimum of amount of access to theshared uplink channel is determined as a function of an amount of timesince a most recent grant of, or scheduling request (SR) opportunityfor, the shared channel uplink for the UE.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the threshold amount of downlink throughput is set to identifysituations where the UE is communicating using a Transmission ControlProtocol (TCP) connection at a rate high enough that the TCP connectionmay be throttled; and wherein the minimum of amount of access to theshared uplink channel is provided in order to avoid throttling of theTCP connection.
 10. A method performed by a base station used towirelessly communicate with user equipment using an LTE shared downlinkchannel and an LTE shared uplink channel, the method comprising:transmitting respective user data to each UE from the base station onthe shared downlink channel; determining, by the base station, arespective average throughput for the respective user data transmittedon the shared downlink channel to each UE; determining, by the basestation, if the respective average throughput for each UE exceeds apredetermined throughput threshold; for each UE for which the respectiveaverage throughput exceeds the predetermined throughput threshold,determining, by the base station, a number of time transmissionintervals (TTIs) that have passed since a most recent grant of, orscheduling request (SR) opportunity for, uplink resources on the shareduplink channel for the UE; determining, by the base station, which UEhas a largest said number of TTIs; determining, by the base station, ifthe largest said number of TTIs is greater than a threshold number ofTTIs; if the largest said number of TTIs is greater than a thresholdnumber of TTIs, making, by the base station to the UE associated withthe largest said number of TTIs, a proactive grant of uplink resourceson the shared uplink channel.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereindetermining, by the base station, the average throughput on the shareddownlink channel for each UE comprises calculating an average throughputsupplied on the shared downlink channel to each UE over a predeterminednumber of TTIs.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the user datatransmitted to at least one UE comprises user data for a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) connection.
 13. The method of claim 10, whereinthe proactive grant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel ismade to enable the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs totransmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the proactive grant is made by the base stationwithout the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs making,and without the base station receiving, a scheduling request for uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel.
 15. The method of claim 10,wherein the shared downlink channel comprises a LTE Physical DownlinkShared Channel (PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTEPhysical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).
 16. The method of claim 10,wherein the uplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise atleast one of: a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resourceblocks (PRBs) for transmitting on the shared uplink channel.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the base station signals each proactivegrant by sending a DCI0 message on an LTE Physical Downlink ControlChannel (PDCCH).
 18. A base station configured to wirelessly communicatewith user equipment (UE), the base station comprising: a radioconfigured to wirelessly communicate with the UE; at least one processorconfigured to cause the base station to do the following: transmit userdata to the UE from the base station on a shared downlink channel;determine if a throughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on theshared downlink channel is greater than a threshold amount; and if thethroughput for the user data transmitted to the UE on the shareddownlink channel is greater than the threshold amount, provide the UEwith a minimum amount of access to a shared uplink channel by makingproactive grants of uplink resources when necessary.
 19. The basestation of claim 18, wherein the user data transmitted to the UEcomprises user data for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)connection.
 20. The base station of claim 18, wherein the processor isconfigured to cause the base station to provide the UE with the minimumamount of access to the shared uplink channel to enable the UE totransmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.
 21. The basestation of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to cause thebase station to make the proactive grant without the UE making, andwithout the base station receiving, a scheduling request for uplinkresources on the shared uplink channel.
 22. The base station of claim18, wherein the shared downlink channel comprises a LTE PhysicalDownlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprisesa LTE Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).
 23. The base station ofclaim 18, wherein the uplink resources on the shared uplink channelcomprise at least one of: a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physicalresource blocks (PRBs) for transmitting on the shared uplink channel.24. The base station of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured tocause the base station to signal each proactive grant by sending the UEa DCI0 message on an LTE Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). 25.The base station of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured tocause the base station to determine the minimum of amount of access tothe shared uplink channel as a function of an amount of time since amost recent of a grant of or scheduling request (SR) opportunity foruplink resources for the UE.
 26. The base station of claim 18, whereinthe processor is configured to cause the base station to set thethreshold amount of throughput to identify situations where the UE iscommunicating using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection ata rate high enough that the TCP connection may be throttled; and whereinthe processor is configured to cause the base station to determine theminimum of amount of access to the shared uplink channel to avoidthrottling of the TCP connection.
 27. A base station configured towirelessly communicate with user equipment (UE) using an LTE shareddownlink channel and an LTE shared uplink channel, the base stationcomprising: a radio configured to wirelessly communicate with the UE; atleast one processor configured to cause the base station to do thefollowing: transmit respective user data to each UE from the basestation on the shared downlink channel; determine a respective averagethroughput for the respective user data transmitted on the shareddownlink channel to each UE; determine if the respective averagethroughput for each UE exceeds a predetermined throughput threshold; foreach UE for which the respective average throughput exceeds thepredetermined throughput threshold, determine a number of timetransmission intervals (TTIs) that have passed since a most recent of agrant of, or scheduling request (SR) opportunity for, uplink resourceson the shared uplink channel for the UE; determine which UE has alargest said number of TTIs; determine if the largest said number ofTTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs; if the largest saidnumber of TTIs is greater than a threshold number of TTIs, make, to theUE associated with the largest said number of TTIs, a proactive grant ofuplink resources on the shared uplink channel.
 28. The base station ofclaim 27, wherein the processor is configured to cause the base stationto determine the average throughput on the shared downlink channel foreach UE comprises by calculating an average throughput supplied on theshared downlink channel to each UE over a predetermined number of TTIs.29. The base station of claim 27, wherein the user data transmitted toat least one UE comprises user data for a Transmission Control Protocol(TCP) connection.
 30. The base station of claim 27, wherein theprocessor is configured to cause the base station to make the proactivegrant of uplink resources on the shared uplink channel in order toenable the UE associated with the largest said number of TTIs totransmit acknowledgments on the shared uplink channel.
 31. The basestation of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to cause thebase station to make the proactive grant without the UE associated withthe largest said number of TTIs making, and without the base stationreceiving, a scheduling request for uplink resources on the shareduplink channel.
 32. The base station of claim 27, wherein the shareddownlink channel comprises a LTE Physical Downlink Shared Channel(PDSCH), and the shared uplink channel comprises a LTE Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH).
 33. The base station of claim 27, wherein theuplink resources on the shared uplink channel comprise at least one of:a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and physical resource blocks (PRBs) fortransmitting on the shared uplink channel.
 34. The base station of claim27, wherein the processor is configured to cause the base station tosignal each proactive grant by sending a DCI0 message on an LTE PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH).